Hello - I’ve lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 39 years, since the age of 12. It’s an autoimmune disease that requires constant, relentless management and there are no days off. Like so many others living with T1D, I’ve spent decades hoping for a cure. Today, that hope feels closer than ever thanks to promising clinical trials.

That’s why it’s so devastating to know that life-changing treatment exists—but remains out of reach because of outdated bureaucratic language.

The Islet Act has the potential to transform lives, yet it currently classifies islet cells as a “drug” instead of an “organ.” This distinction creates unnecessary barriers, preventing insurance from covering islet cell transplants and putting them financially out of reach for most people. A simple change in wording—from “drug” to “organ”—would open the door to coverage and access.

Clinical trials, including the Eledon study, have shown that islet cell transplants can restore insulin independence and dramatically improve quality of life, reducing the long-term complications of diabetes. For those of us managing this disease daily—with insulin injections, pumps, CGMs, and constant monitoring which are costly and not fail-proof —this isn’t just innovation.  It’s freedom

Outdated regulatory language should not stand in the way of progress. We urge lawmakers, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to revise the Islet Act and align it with current science by recognizing islet cells as organs.

Our health and future should not be dictated by semantics. This change is more than policy—it’s a step toward ending a lifelong disease.

Please sign this petition to help make islet cell transplants accessible and affordable. Together, we can move closer to a world where Type 1 Diabetes is no longer a life sentence.